[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 27, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4434-S4435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 100--CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF MAJORITY RULE 
 IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AND RECOGNIZING THE MOMENTOUS SOCIAL 
  AND ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF SOUTH AFRICA SINCE THE INSTITUTION OF 
                       DEMOCRACY IN THAT COUNTRY

  Mr. ALEXANDER (for himself, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Lugar, and Mr. Biden) 
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 100

       Whereas the Republic of South Africa peacefully and 
     successfully held democratic elections and transitioned to a 
     democratic, nonracial form of government in 1994;
       Whereas South Africa helped initiate and frame the New 
     Partnership for Africa's Development and continues to head 
     this partnership for development and responsible leadership 
     in Africa;
       Whereas South Africa actively supports the South African 
     Development Community, which promotes regional economic 
     cooperation and higher standards of living in Southern 
     Africa;
       Whereas South Africa has made significant advances in 
     housing by constructing 1,600,000 houses for the poor of 
     South Africa;
       Whereas, since 1994, 9,000,000 people in South Africa have 
     gained access to clean water;
       Whereas, before 1994, 22,000,000 people in South Africa did 
     not have access to adequate sanitation, but 63 percent of 
     households in South Africa now have access to adequate 
     sanitation;
       Whereas, before 1994, 60 percent of people in South Africa 
     did not have electricity, but more than 70 percent of 
     households in South Africa now have electricity;
       Whereas, from 1994 to 2004, secondary school enrollment in 
     South Africa increased from 70 percent to 85 percent, and 
     students in South Africa now learn in a racially integrated 
     school system;
       Whereas the Government of South Africa has established 
     nutritional and educational programs to benefit the youngest 
     and poorest people in South Africa;
       Whereas South Africa is experiencing the longest period of 
     consistent positive growth, as measured by its gross domestic 
     product (GDP), since growth in GDP was properly recorded in 
     the 1940s;
       Whereas F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela share a Nobel 
     Peace Prize for their work in ending apartheid in South 
     Africa and establishing a representative government;
       Whereas Desmond Tutu led the Truth and Reconciliation 
     Commission to repair injustices among South Africans and 
     improve race relations in the country, and was awarded a 
     Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts;
       Whereas South Africa has contributed troops to peacekeeping 
     efforts in Burundi, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the 
     Congo, Ethiopia, and Eritrea;
       Whereas South Africa President Thabo Mbeki has forged a 
     relationship with President George W. Bush, making three 
     state visits to the United States and hosting President Bush 
     during his visit to Pretoria, South Africa;
       Whereas South Africa has served as an inspiration for other 
     African nations striving for democracy and the peaceful 
     cooperation of many ethnic groups;
       Whereas, after being isolated for many years because of the 
     odious system of apartheid, South Africa has since 1994 
     become a premier location for large international 
     conferences, a leading tourist destination, and the locale 
     for numerous films; and
        Whereas, in 1993, the Government of South Africa 
     voluntarily halted its biological, chemical, and nuclear 
     weapons programs and, in 1994, hosted the first conference in 
     Africa on the implementation of the Convention on the 
     Prohibition on the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and 
     Use of Chemical Weapons and On Their Destruction, with 
     annexes, done at Paris January 13, 1993, and entered into 
     force April 29, 1997: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) applauds the Republic of South Africa for the 
     remarkable transition to a democratic government and the 
     tremendous progress achieved during 10 years of majority 
     rule;
       (2) looks forward to a continued partnership with South 
     Africa focused on a sustained commitment to the health of 
     South Africans; and
       (3) anticipates continued social development and economic 
     growth in South Africa.

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 10th 
anniversary of majority rule in the Republic of South Africa and to 
commend the South African people for the momentous social and economic 
achievements they have made since establishing a more inclusive 
democracy. We all remember that just ten years ago South Africa held 
its first democratic, non-racial election on April 27, 1994. This 
momentous event, along with the subsequent inauguration of Nelson 
Mandela as President, later in May, signaled the death knell of 
apartheid and the re-birth of South Africa as a more representative, 
non-discriminatory democracy. The struggle to end apartheid in South 
Africa captured the imagination and garnered the support of millions of 
peoples worldwide, including the people of the United States.
  In August 2003, my wife, Honey, and I spent a few days in South 
Africa as part of a Congressional Delegation led by our Majority 
Leader, Senator Bill Frist. While there, we toured Robben Island, the 
prison island where Nelson Mandela was jailed for twenty-seven years. 
It was a humbling and inspiring experience to walk the grounds and know 
that despite his imprisonment in this desolate jail, Mandela could 
emerge without bitterness or hate and advocate unity and peaceful 
change as he worked with then President F.W. de Klerk to end apartheid 
and establish a representative democracy, for which efforts both men 
received the Nobel Prize in 1993.
  Traveling through Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Soweto, and meeting 
with both white and black South Africans reminded me how far South 
Africa has come in its social transformation, which has improved the 
lives of millions. In 1994, 22 million South Africans did not have 
access to adequate sanitation and 60 percent of South Africans did not 
have electricity. Now, 63 percent of South African households have

[[Page S4435]]

access to sanitation, more than 70 percent of households have 
electricity, and 9 million people have gained access to clean water 
since 1994.
  However, my visit to South Africa also underscored that South Africa 
still faces daunting challenges that threaten to undo the gains it has 
made since 1994. First, and foremost, the most pressing issue facing 
not only South Africa, but also all of sub-Saharan Africa, remains HIV/
AIDS. The 2003 announcement by the Mbeki government that it would soon 
begin providing antiretroviral treatment on a national scale to South 
Africans living with AIDS was an important step. President Mbeki was 
slow to come to this decision, and I hope now he will move forward with 
greater commitment. The South African government must persevere in 
combating the challenge of HIV/AIDS by making a strong political 
commitment and by expanding its prevention and treatment programs, such 
as the impressive ones that I visited during my time there.
  Also facing South Africa and its neighbors is the economic and 
humanitarian crisis caused by Robert Mugabe's despotic regime in nearby 
Zimbabwe. I have spoken on this floor before to condemn President 
Mugabe's brutal oppression of his own people, and it is imperative that 
South Africa take a lead role among the international community in 
agitating for real change in practices of the Zimbabwean government.
  Nelson Mandela aptly said, ``It is better to lead from behind and to 
put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice 
things occur. You take the front line where there is danger. Then 
people will appreciate your leadership.'' Now is the proper time to 
celebrate the anniversary of South Africa's transition to an inclusive 
democracy, and we all look forward to South Africa taking a stronger 
leadership role on the front lines against the twin dangers of HIV/AIDS 
in Sub-Saharan Africa and the oppressive regime of Robert Mugabe.
  To that end, today I submit a resolution to commemorate this 
important event. I'm proud to be joined in this effort by Senator 
Feingold, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Africa Affairs, 
which I chair, Senator Lugar, the Chairman of the Foreign Relations 
Committee, and Senator Biden, the Ranking Member of the Foreign 
Relations Committee. Senator Feingold has been an active leader on 
African issues throughout his tenure in the Senate, and I have been 
privileged to serve with him on our Subcommittee. Chairman Lugar and 
Senator Biden were both leaders on the issue of sanctions against the 
apartheid regime of South Africa in the 1980's and early '90's. I hope 
they feel a sense of satisfaction, today, in celebrating ten years of 
successful majority rule since the peaceful end of that regime.
  Today is Freedom Day in South Africa, a day to celebrate the end of 
apartheid, and the beginning of majority rule in that country. I hope 
my colleagues will join me in supporting this resolution to commemorate 
that event.

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